Biotech Updates

DNA Fingerprinting RB Sugarcane Varieties Based on SSR Markers

March 16, 2012

New sugarcane varieties are protected using morphological descriptors, which have drawbacks in recognizing morphologically alike cultivars. Thus, the development of a consistent DNA fingerprint system for identification of new varieties is important in breeding of these species.

Dennis Silva of the Federal University of Alagoas in Brazil, together with a team of scientists conducted a study to analyze molecular markers to assist in the protection of new sugarcane varieties (RB varieties) from the RIDESA breeding program. DNA sequences with microsatellites were extracted from a unique stretch of sugarcane DNA and analyzed in 15 accessions.

The markers revealed several alleles and low nonspecific amplification. The polymorphic information content showed high values for the three markers analyzed. The accessions showed an average genetic similarity of 0.46 and consisted of four distinct groups. With the primers used in the study, all accessions were distinguished from one another, which implies that the methodology could determine unique genetic profiles. Therefore, DNA fingerprinting is a useful tool in protection of new RB varieties developed though the RIDESA breeding program.

Read the research paper at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJB/abstracts/abs2012/13Mar/Silva%20et%20al.htm.